The series was produced by The Wonder Project, a studio led by Erwin and Kelly Merryman Hoogstraten, in collaboration with Amazon MGM Studios, and is internationally distributed by Lionsgate. The creators have emphasized that the show is made for a broad audience, not just religious people.[1]
Following a four-month casting search, Michael Iskander was chosen to portray David, and Martyn Ford as Goliath. Filming took place in Greece in 2024.[2]
The series premiered on February 27, 2025, with the first three episodes released on Amazon Prime Video, followed by weekly episodes until April 3, 2025. It received praise for its production values and faithfulness to the biblical narrative.
Premise
Set in 1000 BC in Israel, the first season chronicles David as a young shepherd anointed by the prophet Samuel to be the next king following Saul's disobedient descent. As David continues his journey to kingship with challenges and opportunities from his faith and relationships, the season culminates with his battle against the Philistine giant Goliath.[3]
Cast and characters
Main
Michael Iskander as David: A shepherd in Bethlehem who is anointed to be the next king of Israel. A poet and a musician playing the harp, he is the youngest son of Jesse and Nitzevet, the younger brother of Eliab, Abinadab, Nethaneel, Raddai, and Ozem, and a relative of Joab. Raphael Korniets portrays David as a child.
Ali Suliman as Saul: The first king of Israel, the husband of Ahinoam, the father of Jonathan, Eshbaal, Merab, and Michal, and the cousin of Abner.
Ayelet Zurer as Ahinoam: The first queen of Israel, the wife of Saul, and the mother of Jonathan, Eshbaal, Merab, and Michal.
Indy Lewis as Michal: A princess of Israel, the younger daughter of Saul and Ahinoam, and the sister of Jonathan, Eshbaal, and Merab.
Ethan Kai as Jonathan: A prince of Israel, the oldest son of Saul and Ahinoam, and the older brother of Eshbaal, Merab, and Michal.
Oded Fehr as Abner: The commander-in-chief of his cousin Saul's army.
Louis Ferreira as Jesse: An elder in Bethlehem, the father of David, Eliab, Abinadab, Nethaneel, Raddai, and Ozem, the husband of Nitzevet, and a relative of Joab.
Yali Topol Margalith as Merab: A princess of Israel, the older daughter of Saul and Ahinoam, and the sister of Jonathan, Eshbaal, and Michal.
Sam Otto as Eshbaal: A prince of Israel, the younger son of Saul and Ahinoam, and the brother of Jonathan, Merab, and Michal.
Davood Ghadami as Eliab: A high-ranking soldier in Saul's army, the oldest son of Jesse, the older brother of David, Abinadab, Nethaneel, Raddai, and Ozem, and a relative of Joab.
Aury Alby as Joab: The second-in-command officer of Saul's army after Abner and a relative of Jesse and his sons.
Stewart Scudamore as Adriel: The son of Barzillai, the chief elder from the tribe of Judah, and an adviser of Saul.
Siir Tilif as Nitzevet: The mother of David and the wife of Jesse.
Naby Dakhli as Abinadab: A high-ranking soldier in Saul's army, the second son of Jesse, a brother of David, Eliab, Nethaneel, Raddai, and Ozem, and a relative of Joab.
Raresh DiMofte as Lahmi: A Philistine giant from Gath descended from Anakim and the brother of Goliath.
Aziz Dyab as Nethaneel: The fourth son of Jesse, a brother of David, Eliab, Abinadab, Raddai, and Ozem, and a relative of Joab.
Stefanos Vuksanovic as Ozem: The sixth son of Jesse, a brother of David, Eliab, Abinadab, Nethaneel, and Raddai, and a relative of Joab.
Konstantinos Krommidas as Raddai: The fifth son of Jesse, a brother of David, Eliab, Abinadab, Nethaneel, and Ozem, and a relative of Joab.
Jeremy Xido as Agag: The king of Amalek and an enemy of Israel.
Teleplay by: Jon Erwin & N.D. Wilson & Nathan A. Jacobs Story by: Jon Erwin
February27,2025(2025-2-27)
The episode opens with David facing down the PhilistinegiantGoliath. In flashback scenes, David works as a shepherd for his father Jesse but wants to join his brothers in King Saul's army. Due to his mother Nitzevet's status, David is regard as a bastard within his community and shunned. After a lion stalks his sister, he pursues and kills the creature. Meanwhile, Jonathan and his father Saul take part in a successful campaign against the Amalekites. Jonathan's son Mephibosheth also appears as a narrator. Disobeying Yahweh's orders to exterminate the Amalekites, Saul spares their King Agag and seizes their sheep and treasures. In response, Samuel warns Saul that God has stripped him of his kingship and executes Agag.
2
"Deep Calls to Deep"
Jon Erwin & Jon Gunn
Jon Erwin & Jon Gunn & N.D. Wilson
February27,2025(2025-2-27)
The episode opens with a flashback of David's mother Nitzevet sacrificing her life to save him from a lion. David is shunned by his father Jesse and siblings, who blame him for his mother's death. Saul's daughter Michal and her jealous sister Merab later visits David's hometown as part of a royal tour of the Tribe of Judah. After David's older brothers including Eliab return from Saul's campaign against the Amalekites, David attempts to convince Eliab to help him enlist in Saul's army. While scouting a sacked village, they are attacked by Philistine soldiers, who seriously wound Eliab with an arrow. Meanwhile, the five kings of the Philistines gather to wage war on the Kingdom of Israel. Elsewhere, King Saul descends into madness and attacks Queen Ahinoam. Jonathan manages to restrain his father following a duel.
3
"The Anointing"
Alexandra La Roche
Jon Erwin & Bekah Hubbell
February27,2025(2025-2-27)
King Saul descends further into madness and kills a servant with a spear. Rejecting Samuel's call to relinquish his kingship, Saul and Queen Ahinoam consult a witch who attempts to use a voodoo doll to deflect the curse. The Philistine King of Gath Achish seeks the prophet Samuel and tortures one of his disciples, Silas. Achish later strikes an alliance against the Israelites with a woman known as the "Mother of Giants", whose sons include Goliath. Meanwhile, Eliab recovers from his injuries after Jesse sears his wound with the help of David and his siblings. Jesse and his family are visited by Samuel who invites him and his sons for a sacrifice. Through Samuel, Yahweh rejects David's six older brothers. At Samuel's prompting, his sister summons David. Samuel anoints David as the next King of Israel.
4
"The Song of Moses"
Alexandra La Roche
Bekah Hubbell
March6,2025(2025-3-6)
David's family attempt to keep news of his anointing by Samuel a secret. However, Queen Ahinoam summons him to serve as harpist to calm her husband King Saul. David's musical abilities calm Saul, winning his favour. While in the court of Saul, David strikes a friendship with Princess Michal despite the warnings of his older brother Eliab. She teaches him how to read the Hebrew Scriptures. Joab questions Eliab about Samuel's visit to his family but they are interrupted by news of an attack on a border village. After Ish-bosheth, the second-born son of Saul and Ahinoam, violates Dinah, the daughter of Yahir, Ahinoam banishes him to a City of Refuge in Edom. On the way, the convoy is ambushed and Ahinoam encounters a cloaked figure. Meanwhile, Samuel discovers the burnt remains of his disciple Silas. Believing that Saul killed Silas, Samuel and his wife go into hiding.
The development of House of David originated from creator Jon Erwin's longstanding interest in the biblical story of King David. Erwin's fascination with the narrative began in his youth and led him to start working on the script as a teenager after visiting King David's tomb in Jerusalem. This early inspiration eventually contributed to the creation of the television series years later. The series was produced by The Wonder Project, a studio founded by Erwin and Kelly Merryman Hoogstraten, in collaboration with Amazon MGM Studios.[5]
Amazon has thus far ordered one season. Erwin says the script he wrote encompasses three seasons, and "We’ll see if, God willing, we can finish it."[6]
Casting
The casting process for House of David was extensive, spanning four months to find the ideal actor for the titular role. Newcomer Michael Iskander was ultimately selected to portray David,[7] marking his first major acting credit. Iskander secured the role in auditions partly because he had thrown the shot put and the discus in high school.[8] Joining him is Ali Suliman as King Saul, the first king of Israel whose complex relationship with David forms a central pillar of the story. Ayelet Zurer portrays Queen Ahinoam, Saul's wife, adding depth to the royal family dynamics.[9] Veteran actor Stephen Lang takes on the role of Samuel, the prophet who anoints David, guiding him on his path to kingship. Additionally, British bodybuilder and actor Martyn Ford was cast as the formidable Goliath.[10] Ford is 6'8" and 320 pounds, and in the series is portrayed as 9'9" thorugh forced perspective and digital enhancements.[8]
The writing of House of David seeks to present a nuanced depiction of King David by combining scriptural narratives with creative storytelling. Co-created and directed by Jon Erwin and Jon Gunn, both known for their work in faith-based cinema, the series aims to make the biblical story more relatable to contemporary audiences. Drawing primarily from the early chapters of 1 Samuel, the narrative follows David’s transformation from a shepherd to a central figure in Israel’s history. The writers expand upon the biblical text to explore his relationships with key figures such as King Saul and the prophet Samuel, adding complexity to these interactions.[12]
The series integrates direct biblical references with original dialogue, developing subplots that provide depth to secondary characters, including Saul, Michal, and Jonathan. It also delves into David’s internal struggles with faith, morality, and leadership, extending beyond his well-documented battles and victories.[13]
The series is intended to be faithful to the Hebrew Bible but not necessarily a strict retelling of the biblical account of David. "I do remind people this is not Scripture. This is not the source material. This is a love letter to the source material," Erwin says. Jewish and Christian scholars were consulted in writing the script.[14]
One of the challenges in writing the series was crafting dialogue that felt authentic to the historical setting while remaining accessible to modern audiences. To achieve this balance, the writers adopted a formal yet naturalistic style, avoiding overly archaic language.[15]
Erwin and Gunn say that the show is not only intended for religious people but for a broad audience, with inspiration taken from The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and Harry Potter.[16]
Principal photography
Principal photography for House of David commenced in 2024, with the production team selecting Greece as the primary filming location. The country's ancient architecture and diverse landscapes provided an authentic backdrop for the biblical narrative. Specific locations included the region of Fyli, which effectively represented the historical setting of the series. Additionally, parts of the series were filmed in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, utilizing its vast terrains to depict various aspects of the story.[17]
The production team initially scouted locations in Morocco, Jordan, Italy, and Israel before finalizing Greece and Canada for their suitable landscapes and infrastructure. Filming in these locations not only provided visual authenticity but also contributed to the high production values noted in the series.[18] Over 700 people were involved in the production.[6]
Music
The music for the television series House of David was composed by Kevin Kiner along with his children, Sean and Deana Kiner. The trio has previously worked on series such as Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Narcos: Mexico.[19]
For House of David, their composition incorporates a blend of traditional Middle Eastern instrumentation and contemporary orchestral elements, aiming to align with the historical setting while appealing to modern audiences. The series' official soundtrack, House of David: Season One, was released digitally on February 27, 2025, to coincide with the show's premiere.[19]
Additionally, a compilation album titled Music Inspired by the Prime Video Original Series "House of David" features songs from various artists that complement the themes of the series. The album was made available for pre-save on February 21, 2025.[20]
Release
The series premiered on February 27, 2025, with the first three episodes made available for streaming.[21][22] New episodes are released weekly on Thursdays Prime Video, with the season finale set to air on April 3, 2025.[23]
In its first week, the series reached #2 on Prime's most watched list.[24]
Reception
Critical response
The series has received a range of reviews from critics. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, 60% of 5 critics gave the series a positive review, with an average rating of 7/10.[25]
The Gospel Coalition praised House of David for maintaining a balance between narrative engagement and biblical accuracy. The review highlights how the multi-season format allows for more in-depth character development compared to feature films.[26] Similarly, Leah MarieAnn Klett of The Christian Post describes the series as "visually stunning and spiritually rich," commending its high production values and performances. She notes that the show effectively blends biblical accuracy with compelling drama, making the story accessible to contemporary audiences.[27] Alison Herman of Variety critiqued House of David for its lack of depth, calling it “wooden and cheap-looking” despite Amazon’s investment in biblical epics. Acknowledging its positioning as a prequel to The Chosen, the review cites inconsistent accents, unconvincing special effects, and a lack of emotional engagement to ultimately consider the show uninspired, failing to develop compelling characters or match the intrigue of historical dramas like Shōgun.[28] Martin Carr of Comic Book Resources describes House of David as a "sweeping biblical epic" that embraces a grand storytelling approach. He highlights the series' exploration of political power struggles and divine intervention, crafting a narrative of triumph against overwhelming odds that resonates with contemporary audiences.[29] Joel Keller of Decider acknowledges its attempt to present biblical figures with greater depth but argues that it falls short, stating that the characters "appear more like mythical figures rather than relatable humans" and describing the tone as "dull and uninspiring".[30]
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
